(CNN) -- German Chancellor
Angela Merkel signed a coalition deal with the center-left German Social Democratic Party (SPD) on Wednesday, paving the way for a "grand coalition" of right and left.
The SPD membership must still give final approval to the coalition agreement. They are expected to vote between December 6 and 12.
The deal, agreed to early Wednesday, came more than two months after Germans voted in parliamentary elections and followed lengthy negotiations between Merkel's conservative bloc, her Christian Democratic Union party and the allied CSU, and the SPD.
Speaking at a joint news conference with the leaders of the SPD and CSU, Merkel said the three main points of the deal concerned solid finances, safeguarding wealth, and social security.
On the issue of solid finances, Merkel said Germany wanted to see an end to debt and added that its strength relied on Europe also being strong.
As for wealth, Merkel said it was important that the treaty included no tax increases, which would help small businesses and give their workers job security. She promised investment in education and infrastructure projects, and spoke of the need to ensure Germany's future energy supply without nuclear power.
Despite their differences, the parties managed to reach a compromise on social security that balances flexibility and security, Merkel said.
"We went into the talks with very different ideas, and that is why it took a little while," she said. "We have a good chance to be able to say in 2017 that people will be better off."
Under the coalition treaty, a new nationwide minimum wage of 8.50 euros ($11.50) an hour will come into force starting January 2015.
The 185-page treaty also includes a provision to lower the retirement age, as well as an agreement to charge tolls for foreign vehicles using German highways.
If the deal is approved, Merkel would be in line for a third term in office.
'Good for the country'
Hermann Groehe, general secretary of Merkel's center-right Christian Democratic Union party, said in a statement on the party's website: "The work is done. The coalition agreement between the CDU, CSU and SPD bears a strong conservative imprint.
"We have achieved a result that will be good for the country. Solid finances and the stability of the euro are at the heart of the agreement."
Merkel emerged from the September elections with the
CDU's biggest vote in 20 years. But the CDU and allied Christian Social Union (CSU) party did not win an outright victory, requiring them to form a coalition government.
The pro-business Free Democrats, Merkel's previous coalition partner, failed to pass the 5% threshold for getting into parliament, making a grand coalition with the SPD, the CDU's chief election rival, the most likely scenario.
Merkel's expected third term would give the country consistent leadership at a time when the future of the euro has come under question amid the economic problems of some euro zone members.
While Germany has emerged from the crisis with its economy relatively intact, nations such as Greece have entered deep recessions while unemployment has soared.
الرئيس الفلسطينى محمود عباس
رئيس مجلس النواب اللبنانى نبيه برىبيروت (أ ش أ)_اليوم السابععاد رئيس مجلس النواب اللبنانى نبيه برى إلى بيروت مختتما زيارة رسمية لإيران استغرقت أربعة أيام بدعوة من نظيره الإيرانى على لاريجانى
صورة أرشيفية
صورة أرشيفية
الرئيس الفلسطينى أبو مازن
صورة أرشيفيةاليوم السابع
رئيس الوزراء العراقى نورى المالكىبغداد (أ. ش.أ)اليوم السابع
رئيس الوزراء الباكستانى نواز شريفلندن - (أ ش أ)اليوم السابع
صورة أرشيفيةكوالالمبور (أ ش أ)اليوم السابع
فريق مازيمبى الكونغولىكتب- مروان عصام - اليوم السابع
حسام البدرىكتب مروان عصام - اليوم السابعقرر الاتحاد الليبى لكرة القدم، نقل المباراة التى تجمع بين فريقى الهلال وأهلى طرابلس، غداً الخميس، ضمن مباريات الجولة السابعة، من عمر مسابقة الدورى الليبى من مدينة "بنغازى"، إلى "البيضاء".
محمد صلاح والننىكتب مروان عصام - اليوم السابع
محمد صلاحكتب محمد فرحان - اليوم السابع
صورة أرشيفيةطرابلس(أ ش أ)_اليوم السابع
صورة أرشيفيةبغداد (أ ش أ)_اليوم السابعأعلن مصدر أمنى بمحافظة البصرة اليوم الأربعاء، أن مراسل ومصور قناة بغداد قتل بإطلاق نار عشوائى خلال مراسم تشييع جنازة شيخ عشيرة الغانم جنوب المحافظة التى تبعد بنحو 590 كم جنوب العاصمة بغداد .
وزير المالية الإسرائيلى يائير لابيدالقدس- الأناضول - اليوم السابعدعم بنك إسرائيل (البنك المركزى) أمس الثلاثاء، المقترح الذى خرج به وزير المالية فى الحكومة الإسرائيلية يائير لابيد، الاثنين الماضى، والقاضى بإلغاء الزيادة فى ضريبة الدخل، والتى يفترض أن تدخل حيز التنفيذ مطلع العام القادم.
مــؤشــر جوهانسبرج (د.ب.أ) - اليوم السابع